Hindu community remains apprehensive as communal tensions escalated in Sindh’s Ghotki district, after a man Amar Lal who had reportedly converted to Islam about four years ago was arrested for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran on Tuesday, July 26.

Tensions rose in the district soon after the allegations were brought against Amar Lal, who is a drug addict and mentally unstable started living in a mosque after his conversion. A mob ran riot and shot two Hindu men in Mirpur Mathelo. One of the two men shot was 17-year-old Dewan Sateesh Kumar, who succumbed to his injuries while the other victim Avinash is in a critical condition.

Blasphemy allegations had sparked communal tensions and violence in Ghotki district- Daharki, Mirpur Mathelo, Ubauro and Khan Pur Mehar remained closed today also. Leaders of religious parties called for “severe punishment for the blasphemer,” which sparked riots. Protesters blocked, National Highway and staged a sit-in for five hours.

According to reports circulating on social media the violent mob pelted stones at the Rehrki Mandir and allegedly a young Hindu girl was abducted in a purported honor reparation for the blasphemy claim.

Police and law enforcement agencies conducted overnight raids in Ghotki district. About 150 rioters were arrested. Moreover, heavy contingents of police had been deployed in areas more vulnerable to mob violence in particular in areas with heavy concentration of Hindus.